The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.98. Of the 5,034 households, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were not families 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. The 5,499 housing units averaged 354.8 per square mile (137.0/km 2). The population density was 881.7 people per square mile (340.4/km 2). Īs of the census of 2000, 13,664 people, 5,034 households, and 4,163 families resided in the town. Paradise Valley's motto, coined by residents, is "there is a reason we call this valley 'paradise'". House, McCune Mansion/Hormel Mansion, and Barry Goldwater Memorial Park.ĭemographics Historical population Several historical sites are within the town, including the Harold C. Other landmarks include Camelback Mountain on the southern border and the Piestewa Peak mountainous area on the western border. The central terrain of Paradise Valley is dominated by Mummy Mountain. The petition was granted by the supervisors, allowing the town of Paradise Valley to be incorporated on May 24, 1961. These residents formed "Citizens Committee for the Incorporation of The Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona", which collected enough signatures to take to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Mainly an agricultural area during the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, the area began to be settled after World War II, on large, one to five acres (4,000 to 20,200 m 2) lots for which it became known.Īs the neighboring settlements of Phoenix and Scottsdale began to grow and annex adjoining areas, the residents of what would become Paradise Valley were concerned that the qualities they most valued would be lost if they were consumed by their larger neighbors. According to the official town website, this name may have been chosen due to the abundance of spring wildflowers and palo verde trees. In the 1880s, when the land was being surveyed so it could be developed into agricultural lots, the name "Paradise Valley" first came into use, being given by surveyors from the Rio Verde Canal Company and its manager at the time, Frank Conkey. However, its history dates back to a more agrarian society.Īfter the initial European settlement, Paradise Valley was first used for cattle grazing. It is known primarily for its many resorts and expensive real estate. Paradise Valley is the wealthiest suburb of Phoenix.
Residents attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District. The Paradise Valley Unified School District does not serve the town its boundaries end a few miles north of the border.
For instance, Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Mall, and Paradise Valley Golf Course are all several miles north of the town, in Phoenix. The town is not to be confused with Paradise Valley Village, an official municipal designation, in northeast Phoenix. The town's name comes from the expansive area known as Paradise Valley that spreads from north of the Phoenix Mountains to Cave Creek and Carefree on the north and the McDowell Mountains to the east. It is also known for expensive real estate. Despite its relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise Valley is home to eight full-service resorts, making it one of Arizona's premier tourist destinations. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town was 12,820. The town is known for its luxury golf courses, shopping, real estate, and restaurant scene. Paradise Valley is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and a suburb of Phoenix.